Ripon, WI - The Martin Luther College volleyball team concluded their weekend tournament with a pair of wins on Saturday over Mount Mary and Ripon by a final score of 3-1 in each match.

MLC 3, Mount Mary 1

The Knights started off the day in their 10 a.m. match with a comfortable cushion in the first set, taking it 25-20 against the Blue Angels. The second set proved to give the Knights a tougher test as the two squads battled back and forth over the net, ultimately leading to a 30-28 advantage for Mount Mary. The Knights took the third set after Grace Kieselhorst contributed seven kills in the set, leading to the 25-19 win. From there, MLC took care of business in the fourth set (25-20) to give them their first victory of the season.

As a team, the Knights overmatched the Blue Angels in the kills department, almost doubling them up in that area 62-30. MLC also took advantage of their serves, finishing with 15 aces for the match. Kieselhorst led the way with 17 kills, 29 assists, and six aces, while Abigail Winkel had 12 kills and was a presence at the net defensively coming up with four blocks.

MLC 3, Mount Mary 1

MLC would wrap up their stay at the Ripon College Classic with a win in their final match against the host school with the 3-1 win. The Redhawks put the Knights in tough situations on their volleys back, forcing MLC into multiple errors on their way to a 25-15 win in the first set. 

However, the Knights returned the favor in the second set with the 25-15 result ending on their side to even up the match 1-1. MLC would fight back in a critical third set after trailing 16-12 midway through it due to a couple of block from Lauren Paulsen and company. MLC would then benefit from a service and attack error to give them the final two points needed. Freshman Ella Walz would get a few service aces in the fourth set, as the Knights carried their momentum on to the match win for the sweep on day two of the tournament.

Kieselhorst once again led the way in kills with 13, as Winkel led in blocks again, recording six. Walz led the team in assists with 19 for the match.

MLC (2-2) now moves on to their home debut of the season when they play Macalester on Wednesday, September 6, at 7 p.m. in the LSC.